Method and apparatus for applying labels to non-circular containers



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United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS TONON-CIRCULAR (IONTAINERS Alfred F. Luthi, Los Angeles, Calif., assignorto Luthi Machinery 8; Engineering Co. Inc., Gardena, Califl, acorporation of California I Application May 17, 1949, Serial No. 93,768

17 Claims. (Cl. 216-44) This invention relates to the application oflabels to containers, cans, and the like, such as used for packing food;more particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus for adheringlabels to such containers which are non-circular.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus of thistype.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus which willoperate satisfactorily to apply labels to non-circular containers whichmay have become distorted from their true shape.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus adapted toapply labels to containers, cans and the like having a taperedconfiguration.

it is another object of this invention to provide apparatus for applyinglabels to non-circular containers or the like which applies an adhesivelayer extending substantially entirely about the perimeter of thecontainer.

it is another object of this invention to provide container labelingapparatus having novel means for feeding the adhesive to the applicatorrolls.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel mounting forthe adhesive applicator rolls to enable application of adhesive tocontainers distorted as by bulged sides or otherwise from their trueshape.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel drivemechanism for such applicator rolls which will accommodate universalmovement thereof.

In machinery for applying labels to non-circular containers and thelike, it is known to provide conveyor means for advancing the containersin spaced relation and appropriately positioned, past an adhesiveapplicator, usually a roller, which applies a suitable paste or glue toa desired area on the container. Continued advance of the containerbrings it adjacent the label stack, the container being so moved as tocause the .glue or paste thereon to engage one end portion of theoutermost label, which is thus adhered to the container. The containeris then caused to roll past the label stack, so that the;

label'is wrapped around the. container, the other end portion or lapbeing adhered to the container, as-by additional adhesive or lap glue,suitable means being provided for pressing the lap against thecontainer.

It is another object of this invention to provide improved mechanism foradvancing the containers past the adhesive applicator rolls, labelmagazine, etc.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improvedarrangement for applying the pickup glue, paste, or the like to thecontainers.

It is another object of this invention to provide improved means forapplying the lap paste or other adhesive to the container.

It is another object of this invention to provide adhesive applicatormeans particularly adapted for use with hot glue, paste, or the like. gv

It is another object of this invention toprovide a novel form of labelmagazine for labels adapted for use on containers having a taperingconfiguration.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved method ofapplying labels to food containers, cans, and the like.

Frozen foods are now in extensive use and are commonly packed for salein non-circular packages or containers formed of fibrous sheets,suitably treated to be moisture proof as by impregnation with parafiinwax, or the like. After packing, the containers usually are maintainedat a low temperature so that the contents are frozen until used by theconsumer. It has been proposed to lithograph or otherwise impress thelabel and/or other identifying insignia on the sheet material prior toforming the container, but this is not always practical due toinsufficient advance information as to the number of containers requiredfor a given product, the brand names, etc. This makes it very desirableto apply appropriate labels after the containers have been packed.Accordingly, it is another object of this invention to provide a methodand apparatus for applying labels to fiber food containers, either whilethe contents are frozen or wholly or partly thawed.

Containers of the type under discussion are usually formed with flatsides, which due to the character of the material of Which they areformed, thawing of the contents or other causes, frequently becomebulged or distorted from their true shape. It is thus another object ofthis invention to provide a method and apparatus for applying a label tocontainers presenting an irregular or uneven surface.

Furthermore, containers formed of fibrous sheet matemetal containers andthus are less capable of resisting strains tending to distort them,incidental to the label application. It is accordingly another object ofthis invention to provide'a method and apparatus for applying labels tofiber containers without distortion or injury thereof.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objectswhich may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of severalembodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown severalforms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the presentspecification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustratingthe general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood thatthis detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, sincethe scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a machineincorporating features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3' is a'schematicplan' view showing various steps in theapplication of a label by the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially as indicated by line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 4-a is a fragmentary transverse section, taken substantially asindicated by line 4a4a of Figure 9;

Figure 5 is a detail section taken substantially as indicated by line5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially asindicated by line 66 of Figure 4, showing the manner of mounting theadhesive applicator rolls;

Figures 7 and 8 are detail sections taken substantially as indicated bythe correspondingly numbered lines of Figure 6, but showing a differentoperating position of the parts;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially as indicatedby line 99 of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale,

ure 2;

enlarged scale, taken substantially as indicated by line 14-14 of Figure13;

Figures 15 and 16 are transverse sections on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially as indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines ofFigure 2;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary plan view showing the means.

for positioning the containers as they advance through the machine;

Figure 18 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially as indicated by line 18-18 of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary plan view, taken substantially as indicatedby line 19-19 of Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a longitudinal section, taken substantially as indicated byline 20-20 of Figure 19;

Figure 21 is an elevation of the right hand end of the machine, partlyin section as indicated by line 21-21 of Figure l, and an on enlargedscale;

Figure 22 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of theleft hand end of the machine, referring to Figure 1, showing thecontainer receiving mechanism;

Figure 23 is a cross section, taken substantially as indicated by line23-23 of Figure 22, certain parts being omitted for clarity;

Figure 24 is a transverse section taken substantially as indicated byline 24-24 of Figure 22;

Figure 25 is a longitudinal section, taken substantially as indicated byline 25-25 of Figure 23;

Figure 26 is a transverse section, taken substantially as indicated byline 26-26 of Figure 25;

Figure 27 is a side elevation of a portion of a labeling machine,showing a modified form of adhesive applying means in connection with adifferent type of container;

Figure 28 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 27;

Figure 29 is a cross section taken substantially as indicated by line29-29 of Figure 27;

Figure 30 is a plan view showing a further modified form of adhesiveapplicator;

Figure 31 is a longitudinal section, taken substantially as indicated byline 31-31 of Figure 30;

Figures 3.2 and 33 are fragmentary cross sections, taken substantiallyas indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure 31 Figure34 is a schematic plan view of a modified :form of machine, and showingvarious steps in the application of a label thereby;

Figure 35 is a plan view showing a modified form of label magazineemployed in the machine of Figure .34;

Figure 36 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially as indicated by line 36-36 of Figuse 35;

Figures 37 and 38 are longitudinal sections taken substantially asindicated by the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure 3-6;

Figure 39 is a cross section, taken substantially as indicated by line39-59 of Figure 37;

Figure 40 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, taken substantially asindicated by line 40-41) of Figure 36;

Figures 41 and 42 are detail transverse sections taken substantially asindicated by the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure '35;

Figures 43, 44 and 45 are diagrams showing in detail one step in theoperation of the machine of Figure 34;

Figure 46 is a perspective view of a difierent of container;

Figure 47 is a development of a label suitable for use on the containerillustrated in Figure 46;

Figure 48 is an elevation showing modified forms of cooperating adhesiveapplicator rolls; and

Figure 49 is an elevation partly in section showing another modifiedform of adhesive applicator roll.

Referring generally to the method and to one form of machine orapparatus by the aid of which it may be carried forward conveniently,means 10 are provided, including a conveyor for advancing the containersC in an upright position along a definite path and in variouspredeterminedangular positions about their vertical axes in accordancewith their positions along the path. As shown by way of example thecontainers C are of oblong rectangular cross section having opposedpairs of wide sides and narrow sides joined by rounded corners. in sucha container, there will be opposite zones of limited area on thecontainer surfaces respectively spaced the long way of the container bythe maximum dimension of the cross section. For example, such zonesmight comprise the corners of the container, or if one or both pairs ofsides were rounded, the zones might be at an inter" mediate point on therounded sides. These areas may be conveniently termed salient zones orprominences, since as the container is rotated they will extend beyondthe width or length defined by the wide or narrow sides. In-that form ofthe invention which will be described first, the opposite sides of thecontainer are in substantially parallel planes so that the containercross section is uniform, while in a later described modification theopposite sides converge so that the cross section varies from one end ofthe container to the other.

During the initial part of their advance (see particularly Figures 3, 9and 17) the containers C pass in the direction of the wide sides betweenone or more pairs of opposed rolls as 12 and 13 of the adhesiveapplicator mechanism A for receiving a coating of adhesive therefrom.The container C is then rotated a quarter turn clockwise past one rollof a pair 14 of staggered rolls which applies adhesive to the advancingcorner or salient zone of the container C, indicated by X in Figure 3,as well as to the adjacent narrow side, that adhesive on the cornerconstituting the pick-up glue" for initially attaching one end of thelabel to the container. After completing the quarter turn, the containerC is advanced past the other roll of the staggered pair 14, appliesadhesive to the other narrow side.

The container C is then moved to cause the zone X carrying the pick upglue to contact the leading end of the outermost label L of a stack oflabels in the magazineM, continued rotation and advance of the containerpast the magazine removing the label L from the magazine M and wrappingit about the container C.

As shown, the label L is intended to extend entirely about the containerC and accordingly is arranged to overlap the end of the label initiallyattached. For adhering the overlapping end or lap 17 of the label L,mechanism generally indicated by B is provided for applying adhesive tothe exterior of the previously attached end of the label as thecontainer moves past the maga zine M.

After the label has been wrapped around the container, the container isrotated additionally and advanced between pairs of pressure rolls 1'5and 16 which smooth and flatten the label L and the lap 17 against thecontainer C.

The conveyor 10 is shown as comprising a generally conventional rollerchain 20 with chucks or carrier means.

